Tehran sailors launched after US forces board Iranian tanker amid Gulf blockade tensions | World Information
The US navy boarded an Iranian-flagged oil tanker within the Gulf of Oman which it suspected was allegedly violating the port blockade launched by American forces, which is the newest motion by the Trump administration to push Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iranian-flagged vessel, named M/T Celestial Sea, was headed in the direction of a port in Tehran which was stopped and searched by the US forces, US Central Command stated on social media. For the reason that Trump administration launched a brand new blockade of Iranian ports in mid-April, it’s the fifth business ship which has been boarded by the US forces.
Diplomatic interventions and sailor launch
In a put up on X, the US Central Command stated, “Earlier right now within the Gulf of Oman, U.S. Marines from the thirty first Marine Expeditionary Unit boarded M/T Celestial Sea, an Iranian-flagged business oil tanker suspected of making an attempt to violate the U.S. blockade by transiting towards an Iranian port. American forces launched the vessel after looking and directing the ship’s crew to change course.”
Earlier right now within the Gulf of Oman, U.S. Marines from the thirty first Marine Expeditionary Unit boarded M/T Celestial Sea, an Iranian-flagged business oil tanker suspected of making an attempt to violate the U.S. blockade by transiting towards an Iranian port. American forces launched the… pic.twitter.com/1AVT0MudKY
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) Could 20, 2026
In line with Iran’s IRNA information company, 20 Iranian sailors, who have been aboard the vessel, have been returned to Tehran. “The discharge was achieved after intensive consultations between the Iranian international minister and his Pakistani and Singaporean counterparts,” the report added.
Gulf allies postpone deliberate US strikes
The event happened after Trump on Monday stated he had known as off a renewed strike on Iran after America’s Gulf allies, together with the UAE, Saudi Arabia urged the administration that negotiations with Iran have been making progress and the talks may doubtlessly finish the battle in West Asia.
The US president had stated that “a really main assault” was deliberate for Tuesday however it was postpone after requests from Gulf nations, saying that Trump ought to wait for 2 to 3 days as a result of they really feel they’re near a deal, AP reported.
Scale of the maritime standoff and blockade
In a contemporary replace, the US navy stated that 1,550 vessels from 87 nations stay stranded within the Persian Gulf. Earlier than the US blockade of Iranian ports got here into impact, it was reported that Tehran allowed some ships which have been perceived as pleasant to move whereas charging charges.
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Almost three months for the reason that conflict between Iran and US-Israel started, the Strait of Hormuz stays choked by Tehran whereas the Iranian ports stay underneath enforced blockade of US navy.
